Our History

The foundations of the present day Garth Pig Practice can be traced as far back as 1951 when Michael Horrox first set up his plate. However, it was the appearance of Mike Muirhead in 1964 and his subsequent partnership into the business in 1967 that marked the start of the organisations's long association with the pig industry.

Mike Muirhead and Michael Horrox built the practice up over the next few decades into one of the foremost pig practices in the UK. Mike Muirhead in particular had a keen interest in pig medicine, and though he sadly passed away in 2003, his achievements and contribution to the world of pig veterinary medicine and the pig industry in general, remains unequalled. Highly respected by colleagues and clients alike, Mike pioneered many of the husbandry and health practices in common use today. A prolific writer, Mike wrote over 63 academic papers, and published several books on pig medicine. Over the course of his career he received many awards in recognition of his achievements.

The ensuring years have inevitably seen changes and the business's success can be attributed to many who have contributed their knowledge and expertise along the way, cementing the business's reputation nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence in the field of pig veterinary medicine. Today, Garth Pig Practice has around 25% of the national herd under its care making it the largest pig health specialist in the UK.